Japanese Government Launches “Cool Japan” Initiative

Anime News Network reports that the Japanese government has funded a new “Japan Channel” dedicated to exporting Japanese cultural programming internationally, including anime, dramas, music, and travel program. The initial seed money of 15.5 billion yen (approximately $14.7 million) is for subtitling and dubbing costs and publicity, as well as setting up foreign broadcasting offices and programming co-production costs. The channel is set to launch in Thailand in January 2014 and Indonesia in February, and considerations are underway to launch the channel in the United States, Europe, and Africa as well.